 |
Text: Luke 2:25-35
Title: “Simeon, Face to Face with the Christ-Child”
Thesis: Simeon’s God-given vision of the Christ
Intro.:
The Bible says,
"But when the fulness of the time was
come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law." (Gal.
4:4)
I trust that you are
not tired of the story of Christ's birth.
I believe what can grow wearisome is the continual emphasis on the
physical aspects surrounding our Lord's birth; the manger, the animals, the
shepherds, the star, the Wisemen, etc.
It was never God's intention for us to celebrate a baby in a manger,
except as it relates to the coming of God in human flesh.
In fact, the other Bible characters involved focused on the many other
aspects of Christ or God.
The Angel of the Lord
focused on God's power, and Christ's kingship and purpose.
Elizabeth
focused on the Lordship of Christ.
Mary
focused on the supernatural abilities of God.
Joseph
focused on obedience to God.
Zacharias
focused on God's relationship with the Nation of Israel.
The angelic host
focused on Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Anna
focused on the redemption of the Lord.
The Magi
(and Herod) focused on the kingship of Christ.
And Simeon, whose face-to-face
meeting with Christ focused on the Salvation to be wrought through Christ.
The Bible says,
"But when the fulness of the time was
come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law."
Simeon was given rare
insights into the Christ child's Person and ministry.
Why was that? What set him
apart from us, who despite having the completed revelation of God, seem so
shallow in our knowledge of Christ?
Just who was this Simeon?
First,
he was just a man (no high office or position).
Second,
he was in the place of blessing (Jerusalem).
Third,
he was known by name, and consistency (“the same man was”).
Fourth,
he was just (righteous, O.T. equivalent of being saved).
He thought and acted according to God's standard & commands.
Fifth,
he was devout (he was careful, avoiding doing anything contrary to God's law,
and fulfilling all the duties of piety and humility).
Sixth,
he was patiently waiting for the Messiah at the end of his years.
Seventh,
he was controlled by the Holy Spirit (filled, attentive & obedient).
That's not my
message, but it is enough to prick all our hearts!
Luke 2:25-35 -- “Simeon, Face to Face with the Christ-Child” – prayer
Context (John MacArthur): “Luke's account
is impeccable historically, carefully thought out, fastidiously detailed. He
knew that Jewish readers had been basically used to testimony being affirmed, as
the Old Testament required, by two or three witnesses. And so Luke, once
he has completed the account of the birth of Jesus Christ, brings in the
testimony of three witnesses: 1) The
parents of Jesus, 2) an old man named
Simeon and 3) an old woman named
Anna. And for their testimony to be believed they had to have God-centered lives
(No one is going to believe us if we claim to be Christians, but live like the
Devil.). These were righteous
people.
Remember that Jesus was first taken to the Temple for circumcision at 8
days old (this was the first shedding of His blood). Circumcision was the symbol
of the covenant between God and the Nation of Israel.
Then the required purification ceremony for Mary occurred at 40 days.
That's when the mother, having been
ceremonial unclean for forty days, according to the Old Testament law, is then
brought to the temple where she offers a sacrifice for her purification (read
Lev. 12:1-8). And then, and only then, can she enter into the
temple worship of God. Both of these are symbols; ceremonies given in the
Old Testament pointing to the sinfulness of man and his/her need of a sacrifice.
I. THE HOLY SPIRT HAD A MAN WAITING IN JERUSALEM (v25a-d)
A.
Simeon
(“God has heard”)
1. Just (“declared righteous”). God declared him righteous on the basis
of what Christ would do in bearing his sins in the future. This was imputed
(“what does ‘imputed’ mean?”) to Simeon on the basis of his faith in the promise
of God.
2. Devout (“cautious”). He
was careful as to how he related to God and responded to God's Word. He lived a
very careful, cautious life, careful to obey God, careful to honor God, so as to
bring glory to God and to be an example to others.
3. Waiting (“to expect, the fulfillment of promises”)
a. Used only 8 times in the Bible; 2 in the O.T.; 6 in the N.T.
I want to share 5 of the other mentions with you
Prov. 8:34
“Blessed is the man that heareth Me,
watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors.”
Luke 8:40
“And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was
returned, the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him.”
Rom. 8:23
“And not only they, but ourselves also,
which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
1 Cor. 1:7
“So that ye come behind in no gift;
waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
2 Thess. 3:5
“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the
patient waiting for Christ.”
b. Simeon was waiting for the consolation (“consolation, comfort”) of (or
belonging to) Israel
1) Simeon believed in the
literal prophecies of the Old Testament being fulfilled in the coming of the
Messiah, who would be the Menachem, the Comforter, who would bring the
Kingdom that had been promised to David, and all the blessings promised to
Abraham.
“And I
(Jesus) say unto you, ‘That many shall
come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and
Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven’.” (Matt. 8:11)
a) So the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter
Note: Simeon is a representative, who personifies expectant Jews. He
personifies the true, believing, saved remnant in Israel who believed in God for
their salvation, and trusted in salvation by grace through faith and not by
works.
II. THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS UPON SIMEON (v25e)
A. Holy Spirit was positioned upon him
1. Whenever you see in the Old Testament the expression "the Holy Spirit
came upon someone," it doesn't mean that before that the Holy Spirit wasn't
anywhere around. It simply is a phrase that indicates an anointing for a
special responsibility.
III. THE HOLY SPIRT REVEALED THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE or SUPERNATURAL TO SIMEON
(v26)
A. The Holy Spirit revealed (“to divinely command”)
unto Simeon
1. That he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s (“the
sovereign Master’s”) Christ (“anointed One” i.e., Messiah)
a. In other words, though old, grey, tired, overweight and perhaps
feeble, Simeon had something to live for!
John 10:10 says in part, “…I Am come that
they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Let’s be abundant (“superior,
extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon”)!
Note: Simeon was likely a very old man, beyond his prime, suffering under the
same infirmities that some of you are, only without modern medicine!
Despite his oh-so-human circumstances, he was living an expectant life,
controlled by the Holy Spirit and patiently waiting for the arrival of the
promised Messiah. More importantly, God had a purpose in sustaining the long
years of Simeon—a purpose more glorious than Simeon ever imagined—to witness the
arrival of the Christ! How about
your life, senior saints? Are you
living an expectant life, waiting for your Lord & Saviour to call you from the
clouds?
IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT LED SIMEON
(v27a)
A. Based on the Promise of Life, the
Holy Spirit brought Simeon into the Temple at the exact time that Joseph & Mary
arrived with the child Jesus.
1. And what if Simeon had told the Holy Spirit, “I’m too tired to go”;
“I’ll go later”; “My favorite soap opera is on”; etc.?
How many opportunities of blessings & service have you missed because you
said, “No”?
Note: The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon; the Holy Spirit revealed God’s purpose in
Simeon; and the Holy Spirit brought Simeon to the place of promise and blessing!
Is that where you are today, under the full control of the Holy Spirit?
V. THE HOLY SPIRIT LED JOSEPH/MARY/BABY (v27cd)
A. Based on Their Obedience to God’s
Commands, Joseph & Mary brought Jesus in at the exact time of
Simeon’s presence
1. Notice they are called “parents.” The word means “to become.”
They became Jesus earthly “parents” in the outward sense.
2. Notice they are responsible parents (“to do for him”)
3. Notice they are “religious” parents (“after the law”)
a) They were obedient to the O.T.
Are you obedient to the N.T.?
4. Notice the circumstances: 1) the Holy Spirit’s involvement, 2) the
patience of Simeon, 3) the obedience of Joseph/Mary.
VI. THE HOLY SPIRIT FULFILLED HIS PROMISE TO SIMEON TO THE LETTER
(v28-
Note: I hope you trust the triune God in every circumstance of your life
1 Thess. 5:18
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.”
A. Then (after all the waiting and
preparation) the Payoff. “There is a
payday someday” a famous Baptist preacher said.
1. Simeon took Jesus up in his arms (v28)
a. He looked into the eyes of eternity
b. He looked at the face of God
c. He saw every promise & prophecy of the O.T. fulfilled in
this month-old Child
2. He blessed (“praised”) God!!
Stand and join with me,
“Praise God from Whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below;
praise Him above the heavenly host; praise Father, Son & Holy Ghost. Amen.” or
“We praise Thee oh God, for the Son of Thy love…
3. He said to God (and anyone else within hearing) (v29)
a. Lord (sovereign Master). This was the O.T. spoken name of God, because
they would not speak the unpronounceable name of God (Yehwe)
b. Let now Thy servant, depart (“be set free”) in peace [of the inner
man]
1) No man/woman/child departs this life without the full knowledge and
permission of God. Despite all the
tragic means of death, if God does not stop it, He has allowed it for His
purposes, not ours!
c. According to Thy Word
Re 1:18 says, “I Am He that liveth, and
was dead; and, behold, I Am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys
(authority over) of hell and of death.”
d. For my eyes have seen…..
VII. THE CHRIST-CHILD’S DESTINY
(v30-32)
A. This Child is God’s Salvation
(none other!) (v30)
1. Thy salvation. Always in
the O.T. it translates “God’s Yeshua” or God’s Jesus
B. This Child has been Prepared by
God (v31)
1. Which [salvation] Thou has prepared (“to make the necessary preparations, get
everything ready”)
a. Before the face (in the presence) of all people.
C. This Child has been Made a
Light by God (v32)
1. A Light to lighten (“to make visible to all”) the Gentiles
“Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My Soul delighteth; I
have put My
[Holy] Spirit upon Him: He shall bring
forth judgment to the Gentiles”
(Isa. 42:1)
a. Satan brought darkness, this Child brings light
2. The glory (“to make known”) of Thy people Israel
“And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS: for He
[alone] shall save His people (Israel)
from their sins” (Matt. 1:21)
Note: “The Messiah was born of the Jews, and among them; and was first sent and
came to them, and lived and dwelled with them; taught in their streets, and
wrought his miracles in the midst of them. The Gospel was first preached to
them, and many of them were converted, and the first Gospel church was planted
among them; and an additional glory was made to them, by the calling of the
Gentiles, and joining the Gentiles to the Jews, through the ministry of the
apostles, who were all Jews; who went forth from Zion, and carried the word of
the Lord from Jerusalem, to the several parts of the world” (Gill)
Concl.: The Christ-Child was God’s
salvation, who was prepared by God to be the Light of the world. Simeon was
waiting for that Light, looking through the dimness of the O.T.
But he was righteous because he trusted God for Christ’s coming. He was
patient because he knew God’s promises were also “aye and amen.”
He was obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading. He was available to fulfill
God’s will. He waited to see the Promise and he did!
Simeon is not our example—Christ is, and all these things could be said
of the humanity of Christ, but that message is yet to be preached.
But think of it, Simeon is only the second person recorded in the
scriptures who held God in his arms!
Have you embraced all that Jesus Christ is?
Where is your life-focus?
Return to the top of this page